Pathways grant PR 4 09

							Berkshire Community College energized with
green
By Benning W. De La Mater, Berkshire Eagle Staff
Updated: 04/15/2009 07:53:59 AM EDT

Wednesday, April 15
PITTSFIELD — A state grant will help fund a new program for an energy conservation
certificate at Berkshire Community College, and school officials hope it will set the foundation
for establishing a degree program in green energy.

BCC received a $200,000 grant Tuesday from the state's Office of Energy and Environmental
Affairs ' Pathways Out of Poverty program, a gift that was awarded to only two other state
community colleges.

The certificate in energy conservation will be offered in both the fall and spring semesters of the
2009/2010 academic year at both the Pittsfield and the Charles H. McCann Technical School
campuses.

Classes will be 15 students each and will include 45 hours of math instruction, 100 hours in
power tool operation and carpentry, and 120 hours in renewable energy education.

The training will be free for the students, and there will be an emphasis on offering the program
to low-income or unemployed workers.

Bill Mulholland, BCC's dean of workforce development and lifelong learning, said the certificate
will make students desirable employees for construction firms and contractors looking for
workers who know how to make building projects energy efficient.

"Green jobs will be substantial in the future, and we know that the people who learn these skills
will be employed," he said. "Contractors are embracing these skills."

Students will learn how to insulate homes and businesses and how to limit energy loss. They'll be
trained to use power tools necessary for "green" jobs. They'll study theories in energy
conservation and the math behind them.

BCC is collaborating with the Center for Ecological Technology on the program, and the school
is also working with the Berkshire County Regional Employment Board, BerkshireWorks, the
Berkshire Chamber of Commerce and the Berkshire Economic Development Corporation.

State Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield, and Rep. Daniel E. Bosley, D-North Adams, were
key supporters of the Green Jobs Act, which pledged $48 million for green job programs in
Massachusetts, and have led the call for making Berkshire County a leader in green industry.
"Green jobs are the future of our economy and the future is now in Berkshire County," Downing
said. "Giving our workers the skills needed to succeed in the clean energy economy is good
economic, environmental and energy policy."

And with local energy costs averaging 37 percent above the national average and with
Massachusetts and other New England states averaging the most expensive energy rates in the
nation, businesses are starting to focus on saving money with green ideas.

Mulholland said officials believe these circumstances will lead to new practices in the building
industries. The certificate program, he said, could be the start of something bigger — a full
curriculum of green energy courses and degrees.

"We're going to explore building a full curriculum in everything, wind technology, biodiesel,
photovoltaic, geothermal, solar," he said. "What we're doing is building a green jobs handyman
for the future."

To reach Benning W. De La Mater: bdelamater@berkshireeagle.com, (413) 496-6243.